Cardinal Care and off-campus therapy.
Understand the plan, then confirm whether the particular care you want is covered.
The 2026–27 plan
Cardinal Care (formerly SHIP) is Stanford’s student health insurance plan. Stanford identifies Wellfleet Student as administrator for medical and mental health benefits in 2026–27. It identifies Blue Shield of California PPO as the network in California and Cigna PPO outside California.
Check the official Stanford plan information and your own member materials. Off-campus benefits do not establish that every local clinician, service or billing arrangement is covered. Shawn’s participation for your exact plan needs confirmation before booking.
Ask before the first session
- Does my exact plan cover this clinician, billing arrangement and service?
- What deductible, copay or coinsurance applies? What will I owe if the claim is not paid?
- Are referrals, authorization or visit limits relevant?
- Do in-person and online benefits differ?
- Which service code actually applies to the session being offered?
Use the member services number on your card and confirm the practice’s information separately. Keep the date and reference number for your own records. A benefits quote does not guarantee payment.
Eligibility and confidentiality deserve their own questions
Do not assume a postdoc, visiting scholar, employee or dependent has the same coverage as an enrolled student. Ask which plan applies to the person receiving care and whether any separate eligibility conditions apply.
Ask the plan how claims and explanations of benefits are handled. If you are a dependent, ask what communications may go to the policyholder. The practice can explain its own confidentiality process; it cannot speak for every plan’s communications.
Campus care and other options
An off-campus consultation is one possible route. The Stanford support page also links campus resources. If you waived Cardinal Care or have different insurance, use your actual plan’s documents rather than this plan summary.
For a Palo Alto visit or a California online session, review the practical arrangements. No commute time or appointment opening is promised.
Take the next step
Download the insurance call checklist · Compare payment pathways · Ask about a consultation
Shawn offers adult individual and couples therapy and accepts Stanford Cardinal Care, Aetna and private pay. Ask about current fees, openings and your plan’s benefits.
Source and review
This guide offers questions and care-navigation information, not an assessment or treatment recommendation.
Stanford’s 2026–27 official page checked September 8, 2026. Recheck when plan terms change; clinical and billing review pending.